Kristen Votapek

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Northern Kentucky University’s Kristen Votapek has been awarded an NCAA postgraduate scholarship of $7,500.

The NCAA awarded 58 postgraduate scholarships of $7,500 each to 29 men and 29 women who participated in fall sports. Votapek was one of 10 women’s soccer players this year to receive a postgraduate scholarship from the NCAA.

Votapek is the ninth NKU student-athlete in the past seven years to receive an NCAA postgraduate scholarship. NKU’s Michelle Cottrell, Shannon Smith, Kevin Listerman, Malissa Stevenson, Eva Broeg, Kristin Koralewski, Kim Keyer-Scott and Stephanie Leimbach also received NCAA postgraduate scholarships during the past seven years.

Votapek, a senior forward and a graduate of Amelia High School, was named NCAA Division II second team All-American by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America last season. She also earned Great Lakes Valley Conference Player of the Year honors after leading the league in scoring with 16 goals and 18 assists.

Votapek led NKU to the GLVC Tournament championship, and her performance enabled the Norse to earn the No. 1 seed in the NCAA II Great Lakes Region.

In two seasons at NKU, Votapek scored 27 goals and added 26 assists. She twice was named NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region.

In addition, Votapek was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV second team this season for her work in the classroom.

The NCAA awarded 58 postgraduate scholarships of $7,500 each to student-athletes who participated in fall sports, which includes women’s badminton, men’s and women’s cross country, women’s equestrian, women’s field hockey, football, men’s and women’s soccer, women’s volleyball and men’s water polo.

To qualify for an NCAA postgraduate scholarship, a student-athlete must have an overall grade-point average of 3.200 (on a 4.000 scale) or its equivalent, and must have performed with distinction as a member of the varsity team in the sport in which the student-athlete was nominated. The student-athlete must have behaved, both on and off the field, in a manner that has brought credit to the student-athlete, the institution and intercollegiate athletics.

The student-athlete also must intend to continue academic work beyond the baccalaureate degree as a full-time or part-time graduate student.